PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD

Endemic ringworm andStaphylococcus hy;cus infections:A case reportAnthony R. Scheiber, DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

skin problems.3 The many possible etiologies of skin disordersmakes a completeworkup necessaryin problem herds.Summary: A ISO-sow farrow-to-finish operation had a his-

tory of endemic skin problems in sows and pigs for 2 years.Acomplete investigation, including skin biopsies, cultural ex-amination and sensitivity, blood samples, and nutritional andbuilding evaluation, was conducted to identify possiblecauses. Results showed a dermatomycosis (ringworm infec-tion), Staphylococcus hyicus infection, possible nutritionaldeficiencies, and housing inadequacies, causing these en-demic conditions.

A control program, which included washing sows, using anti-biotics and autogenous vaccines, changing processing tech-niques, adding supplemental micronutrients, and modifyingbuildings, was initiated. These changes were followed byrapid improvement in the skin problems. The multiple controlprograms make it difficult to attribute the improvement toanyone change or treatment.

A150-sow farrow-to-finish operation in Washingtonstatehad been experiencinga dermatitis problem in their sowsand pigs for 2 years. Numerous attempts were made by

veterinarians and feed company representatives to diagnose andcontrol the problem without results. This herd sells 50% of itspigs at 41-54 kg (90-120 lb) to a roaster market, and thepacker had begun refusing the roaster pigs because of the skinproblems.

Skin problems are common in intensifiedhog production.2Para-sitic, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections as well as nutritionaldeficiencieswere considered as possible causes.1-3Commonpara-sitic problems are usuallyrelated to sarcoptic mangeor lice.1Vi-ral agents include porcine parvovirus and swine pox.2Bacterialagents include Staphylococcus hyicus, beta-hemolytic strepto-cocci, Actinomyces pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.2Fungalagentsinclude Candida albicans, Microsporum spp., andTrichophyton Spp.2Also, Pityriasis rosea (porcine juvenilepustular psoriaform dermatitis) can cause skin problems andmay be linked to a genetic problem.2Nutritionaldeficiencies ofriboflavin,niacin, biotin, zinc, and iodine are also implicated in

36 Cottonwood Drive, Cody, Wyoming, 82414

Perspectives from the field are reviewed for theirlogic, relevance, and presentation.

Herd evaluation

The farm housed sows and finishingpigs from 23 kg (50 lb) tomarket on outside dirt lots. Each lot had a wood hut to provideshade for the pigs in the summer and warmth in cold weather.The farrowing, breeding, and nursery facilities were total-con-finement buildings.The farrowinghouse consisted of two roomsof 12 crates on wire with a continuous-flowsystem.The nurseryroom had pens on wire, housing eight to 12 pigs per pen, againwith a continuous-flowsystem.The pigs were weaned at 21 daysof age and housed in the nurseryuntil theywere approximately23kg (50 lb).

Upon herd evaluation (performed in February 1993), approxi-mately60% of the sowshad skin lesions resemblingringwormin-fection (Figures 1 and 2). These lesions, which ranged in sizefrom 5 x 5 cm to affectingthe whole side of a sow,were circularand red-to-brownish. The owner was washing all sows movinginto the farrowing house with dish soap and spraying them withProlate@. The lesions on the sows in the farrowing house weremore pronounced than those in the gestationpens.

The baby pigs that were nursing sows had no skin lesions on theday of my visit. On day 1, teeth were clipped and an iron injection(100 mg) was given. Tails were being docked and male pigletscastrated on day 5. All baby pigs over 7 days old had swollen tailsthat were sore to pressure and looked infected. One set of instru-ments was used for these procedures and cleanliness was a prob-lem.

The nursery pigs were overcrowded, allowing 0.09 m2(1 sq ft) orless for 23-kg (50-lb) pigs and 70% of the pigs (280 of 400) hadskin lesions resembling exudative epidermitis. The skin lesionsranged from individual 2 x 2-cm lesions to pigs with 40% of theirbody affected. The lesions were raised, darkened to black, andmost were scabbed over. Neo TerraTM (Neomycin 50 g,Terramycin 50 g per ton) was being added to the nursery feed.

The skin problem continued into the grower pens that were ondirt. Onepen of pigs had 80% morbidity (80 of 100) for skin le-sions that were similar to lesions in the nursery pigs (Figure 3).

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The other grower pens showed 20% incidence of skinlesions. Antibiotics were not used in the grower feed.

DiagnosticinvestigationThe nutrition program was analyzedfor possible defi-ciencies contributing to the skin problems. The solesource of grain was corn, which was tested at IowaTestingLaboratories in Eagle Grove,Iowa and foundto be within normal limits (Table 1). The completefeed was evaluated for added iodine, copper, sele-nium, zinc, vitaminE, and biotin. The feed companyservicingthis farm guaranteed that all levelsmet NRC-

suggested levels (Table 2).

Sow serum was analyzed for antibodies to porcineparvovirusand PRRSvirus at the Universityof Minne-sota Diagnostic Laboratory. The PRRStiters werenegative and the parvovirus titers averaged 2048,which was considered normal because the sowswere

being vaccinatedtwicea year againstparvovirus.

Skin biopsies from the lesions on the sows weresubmitted to the Universityof Minnesota DiagnosticLaboratory.These biopsies showed epidermal para-keratosis and mild chronic dermatitis, and yieldednumerous fungal hyphae. These findings are consis-tent with dermatomycosis (ringworm) and zincdeficiency.3The fluorescent antibody assay (FA)wasnegative for porcine parvovirus. No mange wasidentified.

166 SwineHealth and Production- July and August, 1995

Skin biopsies from nursery pigs were sent to Grand Laboratoriesin Iowa for a bacterial workup. The laboratory identified a Sta-

phylococcus hyicus organism from these biopsies. Sensitivityyielded a resistance to all antibiotics except Naxcel@.

Control programsWe concluded that the ringworm was harbored in the huts anddirt lots. All huts were turned over and washed with an iodine-

based soap and remained turned over for 3 days before beingmoved to new locations. Upon entry to the farrowing barn, allsows were washed with an iodine-based soap. The Prolate@spray was discontinued and, although no mange was found in thebiopsies, Ivomec@ was used prophylactically for mange control.Any ringworm lesions found on sows in the farrowing house weresprayed with 50% mild iodine and 50% mineral oil.

Washington is known for having soil low in iodine, copper, andselenium concentrations. The skin biopsy showed signs ofparakeratosis, suggesting that nutritional changes could be help-ful.4 In April 1993,the producer began to add the following mi-cronutrients to the feed (per ton) :

. zinc: 260 g,

. copper: 57 g,

. iodine: 8 g (40% organic, 60% inorganic),

. vitaminE: 80,000 IV,and

. biotin: 750 mg.

We believed the staphylococcal infection was starting in the far-rowing area because of poor processing techniques. I suggestedthat the producer keep an extra set of instruments in a solution ofNolvasan@while the other set was being used on a litter of pigs.Taildocking and ear notchingwas movedto day 1. Atthe time ofprocessing, 12.5 mg of Naxcel@was given.On day 5, when cas-tration was performed, 12.5 mg Naxcelwas repeated. The disin-fectant for the farrowing room along with the nursery waschanged to Tek-Trol@.A third farrowing room was added andall-in-all-out pig flowwas initiated.

At weaning, an autogenous Staphylococcus killed vaccine (GrandLaboratories, Iowa) was given to all weaned pigs. A new four-room nursery was built and all-in-all-out pig flow was instituted.The antibiotic in the nursery feed was changed to Denagard@ at adose of 35 g per ton up to 14 kg (30 Ib) and 250 g of AureoTM

from 14-27 kg (30-60 Ib). In April 1993, the nursery feed waschanged to include the following concentrations of nutrientsadded per ton:

. zinc: 280 g,. copper: 100 g,

. iodine:6 g (40% organic and 60% inorganic),. VitaminE:80,000 IVand

. biotin:760mg.

The grower was changed to a Cargill-typefacilityon cement. The pigsare kept in this facilityfrom 27-54 kg (60-120 Ib). At this time thepigs are sold to the roaster market or moved to dirt lots until they are104 kg (230 Ib). No antibiotics were used in this ration.

Resu Its

In July 1993, the sow ringworm lesions had decreased by 30%. Itis expected that the lesions will continue to decrease on this pro-gram. The exudative epidermatitis signs have disappeared in thenursery and grower pigs. The docked tails in the nursing pigs areno longer showing signs of swelling or infection.

In September 1993,the exudative epidermatitis still had not re-turned. Because sow ringworm had decreased by 50% from Feb-ruary 1993, we reduced some of the extra nutrients instituted in

April 1993. The following concentrations of micronutrients arenow added per ton of feed:

. sowration: copper 22 g, iodine 3.5 g (organic); and

. nursery ration: copper 70 g, iodine 2.6 g (organic).

In September 1994, the sow lesions had decreased by 70% and a

total confinement gestation stall barn had been completed. ByMarch 1995 the sow lesions were completely gone.

Discussion

The skin problems observed in this herd were related to facilitydesign, pig flow system, baby pig processing techniques, possiblenutritional deficiencies, and contaminated facilities. The chronic

ringworm lesions could be partially attributed to the deficient con-centrations of zinc, copper, iodine, and biotin in the ration.4

The Staphylococcus hyicus problems were probably related topoor sanitation, inadequate processing techniques, continuous-flow barns, possible nutritional deficiencies, and a resistant strainof bacteria.2 These problems were addressed together, and thecondition quickly disappeared.

~Iications. Skin problems have a number of different etiologies, so a

complete diagnostic workup is necessary.

. The multifaceted control program makes it difficult to at-tribute the improvement to anyone or any combination ofchanges or treatments. Some of these programs may not havebeen necessary.

References

1. Dobson KJ, Davis PRo External parasites. In: Leman AD, Straw BE, Mengeling WL,

D'Allaire S, Taylor DJ, eds. Diseases afSwine. 7th ed. Ames, IA: Iowa State

University Press; 1992: 668-679.

2. Straw BE. Skin. In: Leman AD, Straw BE, Mengeling WL, D'Allaire S, Taylor DJ

eds. Diseases afSwine. 7th ed. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press: 1992: 196-216.

3. Nelssen JL, Miller ER, Henry SC. Nutrition Deficiencies and Dietetics. In: Leman

AD, Straw BE, Mengeling WL, D'Allaire S, Taylor DJ eds. Diseases afSwine. 7th ed.

Ames, 1A: Iowa State University Press: 1992: 744-755.

4. Crenshaw J. Personal communication. North Dakota State University.

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